Folding table



(No Model.) I

."l` A.. MENUEZ.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 281,281.' Patented July 17. 1883-..

Lmmmumi i UNITED STATES dPATENT innen.

"VINCENT A. MENUEZ, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA..

FoLDINc TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 281,281, dated July 17, 1883.

Application led September 7, 1882. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LVINCENT A. MENUEZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michigan City, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevation of my improvement; Fig. 2, an inverted plan view, taken on the line x a: of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the legs and leaves folded together.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the figures.

In the drawings, A is a narrow rigid top, in the exact center of which is permanently secured a rigidnppefr cross-piece, B, to which legs b, having the bar b cut away on its lower edge, are mortised or otherwise suitably secured. The cross-piece B is cut away on its upper edge to form a space between it and the top A for the passage of the cross-piece C, having legs c and bar c. The cross-piece C and bar c are cut away in the center, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the ends to fold against the opposite sides of the cross-pieces B and b.

The central portions of the crosspieces G c of the swinging frames are of the same width as the central part of the table, while their ends are cut away on opposite sides, whereby they are made to fit closely against the crosspieces of the stationary frame when closed, while their outer edges' are flush with the edges of the central part of the table. The leaves a. of the table are hinged to the rigid top A and are provided with cleats or stops a.

By my construction the part B is secured in the center of the table, leaving space for the convenient attachment of the hinges, enabling the table to be folded in a compact form for shipment or storage. The cross-pieces B G and bars b c are pivoted together, as clearly shown in the drawings.

All the parts of my table except the top being eut from boards of uniform thickness, canv be sold at a price that will bring it within the reach of all and manufactured .by unskilled workmen. The top may also be made of the saine thickness, or of lighter material, as desired.l

I am aware that the rigid top, hinged leaves, and folding legs are not broadly new.

What l claim, and desire to secure by Lctters Pate t, is

l. A tegole-top consisting of the narrow part A and parts a c hinged thereto, and the frame composed of the upper cross-piece, B, rigidly secured to the part A of the table-top, upon its longitudinal center, legs b b, and the crosspiece b', the said cross-pieces being of uniform thickness throughout, in combination with the movable frame consisting of the crosspieces G and c', and legs c c, the said crosspieces having a central portion of the saine width as the part A of the table-top, and be ing cut away at each end on opposite sides, as described, and pivoted to the centers of the cross-pieces of the stationary frame through the broad central portions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. l

2. In a folding table, substantially such as herein shown and described, a top consisting of a narrow central piece andtwo leaves hinged thereto, a crosspiece having two legs con nected bya cross-piece at their lower ends, rigidly secured to the longitudinal center of the central part of the table, in combination with a swinging cross-piece having two legs, also connected at their lower ends by a crosspiece, the cross-pieces of the swinging frame extending above and below the cross-pieces of the stationary frame, and being pivoted to the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a folding table, atop consisting of a narrow central piece and two leaves hinged thereto, a cross-piece having two legs connected by a cross-piece at their lower ends, rigidly secured to the longitudinal center of the central part of the table, in combination with a swinging crosspiece having two legs, also connected at their lower ends by a crosspiece, the central portion of both of the swinging cross-pieces being of the saine width as the central part of the table7 the said Cross-pieces In testimony whereof I affix my signature in being out away at their ends on opposite sides7 presence of two witnesses. as described, whereby they are made to t closely against the cross-pieces of the station- VINCENT A. MENUEZ. 5 ary frame when e1osed,whi1e their outer edges will be flush with the edges of the central Witnesses: part of the table, as and foi" the purposes set REZIN M. YONTZ, forth. DAVID R. MCCONNELL. 

